Dr Paisley and the "Embryonic all Ireland Parliament"

According to some disaffected Unionists, Ian Paisley and the rest of the DUPes will be attending 'an embryonic all Ireland parliament' on Tuesday.

That’s the day that the next North-South Ministerial Council meeting is due to be held and, despite what they may have once have said ("That is the type of event that no Unionist should be part of." Peter Robinson. "The purpose of these institutions, the purpose of the Belfast Agreement is to ensure that this is used for political purposes to advance the form and the substance of all-Ireland action leading to eventual all-Ireland government." Nigel Dodds), the DUPes will be out in force, fighting for Ulster or whatever they say they do at this kind of shindig.

Dr Paisley, however, has reassured the grassroots:

I am delighted to say from the Dispatch Box today that that is the way things stand, thanks to the Democratic Unionist Party. The North/South Ministerial Council is responsible to this House and we will see that it will be responsible.

Stirring stuff, although I have a suspicion that, even before Dr P came in to rescue the day, this was always the case; the Ministerial Council has never been Northern Ireland’s legislature - it couldn’t pass laws or take action without the parliaments of both jurisdictions and Westminster giving the OK.

And actually, if they play clever, there is not a lot for Unionists to worry about here; Northern Ireland stands to gain a lot more to gain from “consultation, cooperation and action” than the Republic. If such measures strengthen our economy and make our society more settled, that weakens the Union?

Nevertheless, this part of the North/South Ministerial Council’s "Constitution" is worth remembering:

The Agreement stipulates that the North/South Ministerial Council will bring together those with executive responsibilities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland - including through implementation on an all-island and cross-border basis - on matters of mutual interest and within the competence of each Administration, North and South.

You’ll need it for my next post;)